I noticed an interesting swan at Jug Bay this week  (first saw it Tuesday eve, I think but can't remember - may have been Sunday too hectic this week!) and at first simply assumed it was a Tundra.  It has been staying at upper end, south of railroad bed, on AA side of river in main part of Jug Bay.  It seems healthy/normal so I thought it is odd for it to be here now.  I got a distant (~600 feet) but studied look at it with my scope this evening, and am not convinced it is a Tundra.  It is a juvenile that is nearly in full adult plumage, but still has a light muddy look to some of its head and neck, and seems to have some characteristics of both.

Overall, the giz to me seems to lean toward a Trumpeter.  It has a blocky head and stout neck, and more of a V shape than a U shape to bill/plumage pattern.  Not always a clincher, according to Sibley, but a generally useful thing to look for.  It has no lore spot; could be due to age, but again not always there in Tundras according to Sibley.  If seen it would help id!  Bill shape seems like Trumpeter in profile/silhouette - I think of them as having a profile like a Canvasback, sort of a straight shot from top of head to tip of bill.  It's head looked rounded - a Tundra trait, but it was not not evenly rounded.  I don't know.  Maybe a closer look would help, but I doubt it.

If anyone else is out at Jug Bay and gets a chance, take a look!

Cheers-
Jeff Shenot
Croom Md